Protecting a child during Covid

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Hi,

I am looking for some advice. I have been put in a very awkward position by my ex-wife. I am trying to protect my son but she refuses not following the social distancing measures and is exposing my son to other people. She is having friends and their children stay with them. I have reached out CAS, the local police and health unit, but get the run around from them telling me that there is nothing they can do. The health unit sent me a legal article that states to self isolate with immediate family and I shared this with my ex-wife the other day. However, learned yesterday that she had her new boyfriend over that lives a 2 and 1/2 hours drive away. My son told me that the boyfriend has been in bed the whole time he's been there with a headache. My ex-wife is a nurse and allows her son to be exposed to other people which goes against her own nursing conduct.

Any help how to resolve and protect my son would be appreciated

Steps I have taken already

I have spoken to her about she ignores me

My son is scared and has told his mother this but she seems to believe she can tell if someone has Covid and will protect him and also get very confrontational with my son when he voices his worry/concern to her.

I spoke to CAS and they told me to call the local police when I know someone is at her house.

I called the police and they tell me there is nothing they can do because there is no court order.

I contacted the health unit and all they do is send me legal articles confirming that my ex-wife is not properly protecting my son.

I am not sure what else to do? I am close to reporting her to the College of Nurses and her employer as I don't see any other options?

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Your ex wife is being reckless with your son. But, she may not be breaking any enforceable laws.

That is very common. I am pretty sure it is legal to smoke in a small unventilated space with an asthmatic toddler. Many parents continue to feed morbidly obese children unlimited junk food. It's not unusual in my area to see unhelmeted youngsters on their own property riding dirt bikes.

So- there may not be much you can do. Unless there is a rule from her employer, or the College of Nurses against being an idiot, I am not sure what benefit there would be to reporting her.

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Specializes in ER.

Children do not get seriously sick from this covid-19, except in very rare cases. That is evidence based information. All data points to the fact that the people seriously hurt by this virus are people with fragile health to start with.

I do not think that you should start a war with your ex. This is not Ebola. Of course you are upset about the boyfriend being in bed with her. But, there is nothing you can do about it because it's not frowned upon by court systems. It's asking a lot for people to stay away from each other totally in this way, realistically.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I would say the only thing you can legally do is petition the court for immediate and temporary custody of your son. You may be able to make the argument that he is safer with you. Of course you must be prepared to take on that responsibility should you be granted custody. I am not sure how child custody matters are handled in your country. Arm yourself with evidence based statistics about asymptomatic spread of this virus. I am pretty sure I had it back in January (My husband as well.

Understand this will start a war with your Ex so be prepared for the fallout.

Emergent has stated that the virus is not as hard on children as it is on adults. Still 7 children under the age of 10 have died in California. It makes no difference to a parent that few children die if yours is the one affected. Also we have yet to see the long term consequences of this disease on developing bodies.

Were I in your place I would aggressively fight for custody.

Hppy

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